Lachende man met pijp 1768 - 1796

Curator: Here we have "Laughing Man with a Pipe," made between 1768 and 1796 and currently held at the Rijksmuseum. It is a print, an engraving actually, made by Pieter de Mare. Editor: Whew, that smile! It’s… well, slightly unnerving. There’s a gleeful abandon there, but also something else, something maybe a touch sly? What is he so happy about? And why is he winking at us? It really pulls me in. Curator: Absolutely. Laughter is often used symbolically in art; sometimes it denotes joy, sometimes mockery. The pipe adds another layer of interpretation. Tobacco had become a significant commodity by this period. What do you think the artist is implying with his rendition? Editor: Hmm, well, given that he’s the “laughing man,” perhaps a bit of indulgent pleasure? I get a sense that this isn't refined mirth. He's not above something bawdy! Plus, that loose cap. He isn’t uptight. Curator: You're right. While a portrait, it falls within a certain genre, which gives me a peek into society back then and ideas of that time, perhaps someone who exists a bit outside social structures. I find it's an expression of humanity, but I also note the controlled technique, so very common to baroque art! Editor: Agreed! And it makes you wonder who the intended audience was? Were they snickering with him or at him? Because it walks the line. Curator: Prints like this would have been widely disseminated, readily accessible, reaching people who otherwise wouldn't have access to "fine" art. So there's this democratizing effect, as the subject is not a saint, deity, or historical figure. Editor: I guess his humor is what holds up—art capturing daily pleasure… that never goes out of style! Curator: It does make me question my own associations with pleasure, which perhaps shows it's power of transcending the centuries. Editor: Right. A humble piece that speaks to something eternally human, laughter—complicated, messy laughter—connecting us across time.